How to Bowl an Outswinger

An American looking at the phrase "bowl an outswinger" will probably furrow his or her forehead and think, "I've heard of a 7-10 split but what the heck is an outswinger?" That confusion is caused by the fact that an outswinger has nothing to do with bowling on an alley. It has to do with bowling on a pitch in cricket. And an outswinger is a tool in the toolbox of most swing bowlers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Recognize that the raised seam and the asymmetry (caused by wear) of the cricket ball are what allow a bowler to make it curve.
2. Align the seams and the roughened side of the ball to the left (slip side) if pitching to a right handed batter. Keep the shiny side of the ball towards the batter.
3. Take a normal run up and release the ball with a full follow through. It should move from the off stump of a right handed batter (for a right handed bowler.)
4. Sacrifice speed for accuracy when bowling an outswinger. James Anderson will never create a sonic boom while bowling but just ask the Zimbabweans about the effectiveness of his outswinger.
5. Use the net before bringing out an outswinger for the first time. The ball's movement will vary according to how much of a side on approach you use, how angled your arm is during delivery and how old and worn the ball is.
6. Experiment with grip. For example, Anderson uses a grip with seams down.

Tips & Warnings

• For American baseball fans, think of an outswinger as a curve ball.